A 16-year-old boy was arrested for purportedly murdering a middle school teacher in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, during a home invasion, according to KFOR. At around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Deonte Green spotted a woman and her two daughters leaving their apartment home, and he allegedly pointed a gun at them and forced them back inside.

Police say Deonte was unaware that the woman’s husband, Shane Anderson, a seventh-grade geography teacher at Oneta Ridge Middle School, was still in the home.

After hearing a loud commotion, Anderson reportedly rushed downstairs and came face to face with Deonte. It was reported that as the Broken Arrow teacher tried to intervene, he was shot and killed in front of his wife and children.

Deonte, who officials say was an on-and-off student in Union Public Schools, was arrested and booked into the Tulsa County jail on charges of first-degree murder, attempted robbery, and sexually assaulting an 81-year-old woman just hours before allegedly murdering Anderson in his home.

Police say three days before the Broken Arrow teacher was fatally shot, Deonte was released from jail following a “breakdown in communication at the time of his arrest for property crimes.”

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Sgt. Dave Walker stated that the teen seemed remorseful during an interview with detectives; however, he did not admit to any of the crimes.

The teen’s mother, Ebony Green, and his stepfather, Mario Brown, stated that Deonte is not a killer or a rapist. Green went on to say that he suffers from a mental illness that became worse after the 2011 death of his father and the passing of his grandmother in 2015, Tulsa World reports.

Green says that her son has been suicidal ever since, but he never wanted to hurt anyone else or commit any crimes.

When the Broken Arrow Public School officials learned that Anderson, who began teaching at Oneta Ridge Middle School since 2013, was killed during a home invasion, they were stunned.

Superintendent Dr. Janet Dunlop released the following statement:

“I am devastated by the news of Mr. Anderson’s tragic passing. Our hearts are breaking for his family, and we will support them every way possible during this unimaginable time.”

On Monday, students at Oneta Ridge Middle School paid tribute to Anderson, who they say was always encouraging them to give their all.

School officials say that more than 50 students had to leave school because they were “unable to control their emotions” after Anderson’s death.